Jeb Bush rallies to the defense of John McCain, Charlie Crist

John McCain and his main ally in Florida, Gov. Charlie Crist, on Thursday received what could prove some crucial cover from the man who dominated the state's political scene until term limits prevented him from seeking a third term as its chief executive -- Jeb Bush.

Bush, like most Florida politicians from both parties, long opposed oil drilling off the state’s tourism-friendly coastlines. But during a conference call with reporters including The Times' Peter Wallsten, he rose to the defense of McCain, who earlier this week endorsed such exploration as one answer to skyrocketing gasoline prices, and Crist, who in turn backed off his previous opposition to the proposal (and took some grief as a result).

“You can protect the natural resources and the coastline of the state and also be part of national effort to deal with a national security crisis that our country faces right now,” he said. “It’s a huge economic problem for a lot of Americans, which is four-plus dollars a gallon gasoline. It’s a burden that was never anticipated when we were discussing drilling policy 20 years ago, 10 years ago, five years ago, two years ago.

“So I think you’ve got to give people in public life a little bit of room when the context changes for them to also adjust their views.”

Pundits are wondering whether McCain, who had been viewed as the favorite to win Florida's 27 electoral votes in November, damaged his chances to do so with his call for an end to the federal ban on offshore oil drilling (he would let states decide for themselves).

Bush scoffed at such speculation.

“I don’t think it's going to hurt Sen. McCain,” he said. “I think the knee-jerk reaction, just to say 'no' without an alternative, you know, it may work when times are good but when times are tough and people are hurting, they’re not going to tolerate that.”

“My guess is if you did a poll … people support drilling in a reasonable way off Florida’s coast,” said the former governor, whose brother, President Bush, also had a change of heart this week on the issue (and who recently reminded folks that Jeb should not be written off as White House material).

Funny how all that works.

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

[SB]

If these idiots thought in principles instead act first think later pragmatism, the Bush's woouldn't have stockpiled those oil leases.

As for so called environmental concerns, PULEEZE; the Gulf leaks oil from seeps like a sieve.

Environmentalist Mythology: Slicker Than Oil
By Steven Brockerman
© 2004

“On a calm day, you can't take a boat ride [in the Gulf of Mexico] without seeing gigantic oil slicks," according to Harry Roberts, Louisiana State University marine geologist (“Oil Fields' Free Refill,” Newsday, 4/2002). Naturally, we all know—thanks to environmentalists—that the sources of those slicks are the greedy, malevolent oil companies.

Not.

The gigantic oil slicks in the Gulf to which Roberts refers are the result of what’s known as “seeps”—areas on the sea floor of the Gulf of Mexico where large amounts of oil and gas escape through natural fissures. Scientists, including Texas A&M University chemical oceanographer, Chuck Kennicutt, have recently discovered that the oil and gas are surging up from deeper strata far beneath the Gulf.

Moreover, the seepage that naturally occurs in the Gulf of Mexico, said Roberts, "far exceeds anything that gets spilled" by the petrochemical industry. Naturally, we all know, too—again, thanks to environmentalists—that those areas must be barren of marine plant and animal life.

Not.

Trawling during a 1984 research voyage “brought up over two tons of stuff,” according to Texas A&M scientists. They found clams the size of one’s hand and tubeworms up to five feet long. So abundant were the life forms—part of what scientists call chemosynthetic communities—that scientists now know the seeps to be “long-duration phenomenon.”

Indeed, the A&M researchers estimated the clams alone to be 100 years old. Geologists, oil workers, ships’ captains—everyone, apparently, save environmentalists—have long known the Gulf seeps exist. According to Roberts, “the Gulf of Mexico leaks like a sieve. You can't take a submarine dive without running into an oil or gas seep."

Since the first Earth Day, environmentalists have set about constructing a cunningly slick mythology calculated to replace genuine Earth science fact with a cross between rural folklore and urban legend.

We’ve been told, for instance, that if we engage in offshore oil drilling, we risk the catastrophe of oil spills. Given the research data already mentioned, that would appear to be less than true. What about the other side of that myth—that the world is running out of oil?

Funny you should ask.

Yet another interesting fact about seeps is that the deep strata oil causing them is also beginning to fill some of the known oil reservoirs, replenishing them, in geologic time, at a very rapid rate, sometimes within three to ten years. If that proves the rule rather than the exception, then the world supply of oil would be much, much greater than previously thought. It would mean—someone please alert the media—that we’re not running out of oil.

What we do appear to be running out of, though, is sufficient domestically produced petroleum to run our economy. In these post-911 times, that’s pretty critical to national security, right? Solving that problem would surely make for a safer nation, wouldn’t it?

Then how should we treat those environmentalists and politicians who, by seeking to ban oil exploration in the U.S. (and even the construction of new oil refineries, along with that of electrical and nuclear power plants), keep America dependent for oil upon Mideast tyrants—tyrants who also happen to be bankrolling, with their oil profits, the leaders and comrades of the 911 terrorists?

Why, invite the environmentalists to lead Earth Day sing-a-longs at our schools and re-elect the politicians – again and again and again.

Naturally.

Steven Brockerman, who lived in Florida for over 40 years, has a Masters degree in English education from Florida State University and owns WrittenWord Consulting, a company that develops curriculum for the home education market. He is a freelance writer and his articles have appeared in Capitalism Magazine, Florida Today, the Tallahassee Democrat, the New York Post and the Salt Lake City Tribune, among others. Mr. Brockerman currently lives in DFW, TX.

[Wm Tate]

People are fed up with inaction in Washington on a viable energy policy. Frankly, I also think they're fed up with politicians who lie about it, as Hillary Clinton did in her I Had A Dream speech a few days ago when she spoke of eight years of George Bush's failed energy policies. Democrats killed that policies before they had a chance.

President Bush's 2001 energy plan contained 105 separate proposals, including increased drilling, more use of nuclear and cleaner-burning coal, and billions of dollars for research into alternative fuels. Democrats managed to kill the plan. Look where we are seven years later.

-Wm Tate,
http://www.atimeikethis.us/

[lorax]

Jeb Bush has no environmental credentials at all. As governor of Florida, he pushed through an exemption for a cement factory to be built along the banks of a pristine spring and nature preserve, ichetucknee State Springs and Park. Could the fact that he received contributions from the company have anything to do with that? Remember the 2000 election? Jeb Bush helped steal it for his brother. You've heard of the hanging chads and Broward County - but the election was really stolen in Rebulican controlled Duval County. John Stafford, his Supervisor of Elections in Duval managed to hide the fact that he "lost" 27,000 (right - twenty-seven thousand!) ballots from only heavily Democratic precincts. More than enough to give Gore the Florida electoral votes and the election.

Jeb Bush, "presidential material?" God forbid.

[citizen]

How did the democrats kill Bush's energy plan when the republicans controled congress?

And I believe we have allowed drilling in the ANWR, yet this hasnt effected prices at the pump and neither will drillng off the coast of these states. Go ahead and do it. There will be greater profits for it. But it will not reduce our dependence on foregin oil, its still too cheap to buy it over there, or steal it from over there, so far it has only cost us 700 billion. Record profits for Big Oil, 38 Billion in specific tax cuts, yet these companys cant build a new refinery? Just How much does a refinery cost. Repeatedly experts say that its not that we have a shortage of oil, its that we cant refine it fast to keep up with demand, so why are we worried about new drilling?

[Sharon]

This is just another "populist campaign stance!" No off shore oil drilling is safe! No modern equipment will be 100% safe. There will be no real effect upon oil prices or improvement in prices. No relief will be ever accomplished or felt by approving this. No implementation for another 10-20 years, US population will have increased and we will be left in same or worst dependence as we presently are. Dangers are huge.

CAUTION ALERTS
I live in California - Mill Valley, Marin County. I remember 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill when Union Oil had off shore oil drilling leak. This was legal at that time. Government had their chance and blew privilege big time!!! FOR ELEVEN DAYS OIL CONTINUED TO LEAK INTO OCEAN WATERS. NEEDLESS DEATH OF FISH AND OTHER WILDLIFE WAS HUGE. CLEANUP GIGANTIC EFFORT AND WENT ON FOR YEARS. WATER CONTAMINATED NOT ONLY WITH OIL, BUT DETERGENTS USED TO DISPERSE OIL.

Cause of that oil leak - Union Oil had purposely cut back on costs of equipment in favor of profit. How can this happen? Ocean water is not on US soil and legal problems enforcing.

San Francisco Bay and coastline had recent tanker oil spill couple of years ago. Same - clean up costly, fish and wildlife death huge, and we are still cleaning up today.

We also have oil refineries here in San Francisco Bay. Pollution by these companies has gone on for many of the past years. Presently more laws governing, but damage already done.

Citizens and government need to protect ocean and our fresh water. HEALTH ALERTS TO CITIZENS OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA - CAN ONLY EAT FISH TWO TIMES A WEEK. HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH IF CONSUME MORE. REASON - WATER CONTAMINATED AND FISH ULTIMATELY CONTAMINATED AS WELL. I AM A NURSE AND REALIZE THESE ALERTS AND ALL THE DANGERS TO HUMANS QUITE WELL. SERIOUS!

No to offshore drilling!!! Accidents will always happen. Examples of present and past problems - (1)present midwest floods - levees were declared inadequate & questionable to withstanding a flood several years ago by local and federal US governmental agency. Building new homes in areas still continued with no improvements done. Why and how could this happen???? Shocking, but it does! And homeowners homes in area not included in flood zone nor advised to get flood insurance. Shocking!! (2)New Orleans hurricane damage - levees were declared inadequate several years prior to hurricane. Officials did no work - national or local. New building and development continued. Same effect.

Since there has been a ban for offshore oil drilling in place for many years, government has not earned and does not deserve our trust to lift this ban. Too many officials are more interested in lobbyists and the present dollars they may benefit personally themselves. Research. You will be surprised and shocked.

US officials need to take this opportunity to actually bring forth new research. They have discouraged in past. Big money has done it's job so far.

President Bush and John McCain are not telling truth. They are only interested in getting votes. I truly hope voters are wise to their tactics! It sure did not take me long to find out the truth of their claims. Talk about misleading public!! Outrageous!!!

[maramara]

Dear All,
I am writing as a citizen of this world and who is concern about what goes on in America because what affects America affects the world. President Bush came out yesterday June 20th 2008 to express his apprasial on a bipartisan eavesdropping bill. Infact the president talks about it as being "legislation to allow intelligence professionals to quickly and effectively monitor the plans of terrorist abroad while protecting the liberties of Americans here at home" which I think is very correct but what was disturbing to me was the second part of his statement which says "The enemy who attacks us on September 11 is determined to strick this country again" http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?cl=8406961
If the president knows that these people who attacked America on september 11 are planning to attack again, why no go for them immediately. It seems the president is well informed as to when they will attack and their exact location. Why not go for them instead of misleading the people into Iraq? Are these statements linked to the current 08 elections? Americans really need to ask George W Bush Jr. many questions. I hate terrorist but I will not be please with any leader who will try to instill fear in to God's people for political gains. He need to clarify Americans on his statements.

[magdalen]

Jeb Bush has the poise and self confidence of one of the most highly experienced and open minded politicians in America today.
Jeb Bush has the experience to be flexible. Compromise is the greatest skill of all, and boy does he have it in spades.
Jeb Bush endorses oil drilling off the State's coastlines , and it is a brilliant strategy.

Hopefully iit will help make Arab Muslim input redundant.

[Gaias Child]

I'm kinda knee jerk anti Republican but Jeb Bush could help McCain's ticket I think. I kinda knee jerk anti Bush too but here's a really likeable one whose mother has presidential ambitions for him. And Florida likes him. As far as I know.

[Dale Clark]

What is Jeb Bush doing for work these days?